AT WORK

Community Invited To Share Memories As City Celebrates

150th Anniversary Of Cook Park

photos, memories and stories in the lead up to the anniversary. The material will be added to the Recollect Central West website, an online collection of heritage material relating to the people, places and events of the Central West.

Images will also be displayed on a screen in the Bastick Cottage as part of the celebrations, alongside an exhibition featuring the people who shaped Cook Park.

The community picnic day will be held in the park from 10am to noon on Saturday 25 November, featuring music and dance performances, food vendors, a cake

Orange City Council will celebrate National Tree Day on Sunday 30 July with a community planting event at Gosling Creek.

The aim is to plant 800 native trees, shrubs and grasses on the day to enhance biodiversity in the area and provide habitat for native wildlife.

Orange Environmental Sustainability Community Committee Chair, Cr David Mallard said the event had received strong support from the community in previous years.

“Last year’s event was a huge success, with 150 people planting 1100 native plants at Lake Canobolas, and I hope we get the same response from volunteers this year,” Cr Mallard said.

“In the past five years, more than 5000 native plants have been planted around Orange on National Tree Day.”

“I encourage all community members to come along and plant a tree for our beautiful environment. It’s a great cutting and commemorative tree planting. Orange City Council’s Parks, Trees and Waterways Committee Chair, Cr Mel McDonell encouraged everyone to join in the celebrations.

“This is a great opportunity to celebrate everything that we love about Cook Park, from its history and heritage significance to its present-day appeal for local families and visitors,” Cr McDonell said.

People wishing to share their photos and memories of Cook Park should email their material to heritage@orange.nsw.gov.au chance to give back and it’s an activity that the whole family can enjoy.”

The event will be held from 10am to 1pm and a barbecue and refreshments will be provided afterwards for participants to thank them for their hard work.

Parking will be available on the corner of Forest and Bloomfield roads and signs will be in place to guide people to the planting area.

People are invited to wear appropriate outdoor clothing, sunscreen, a hat and covered shoes.

Holes will be pre-dug to make planting easier and all tools will be provided on the day as well as a pair of gloves.

Established in 1996, National Tree Day is an initiative of Planet Ark. It has grown into Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature care event, with more than 26 million trees planted since it began.

INQUIRY WILL SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON SHOCKING INSURANCE PRACTICES IN DISASTER-HIT COMMUNITIES

Iwelcome the announcement that the federal government will launch a parliamentary inquiry into the response of insurers to the 2022 storm and flood events including those that occurred in Central Western NSW.

Since this disaster hit our region, we have heard many stories of heartache and heartbreak from local residents and business people who have had their homes and livelihoods destroyed.

Communities like Eugowra, Molong, Canowindra, Cudal and Wellington were devastated by November’s storm and flood events.

The rebuilding and recovery process has been made much harder, and the tragedy much worse, by the cold-hearted and shocking response of insurers to policyholders.

The anger in our communities is white hot, and I don’t think we are alone, with other regions across Australia left reeling from the callous conduct of insurance companies. From long delays in claims processing, to widespread knockbacks. It’s taken a massive toll across our region.

The reality is that there is a huge power imbalance between policy holders and insurance companies.

At the end of the day, if a policy holder wants to fight a knockback from an insurer, they’re going to need to fork out big dollars for an expert hydrology report and also a solicitor. If you’ve lost everything or your business is in ruins, there is just no prospect of fighting back.

The stories of insurers trying to do the right thing are sadly few and far between.

Australians expect insurers to be assessing claims in a generous and kind-hearted way, nothing less.

make sure the pain that insurance companies have inflicted on our communities is not repeated in others.

I’m hoping that this inquiry can shine a spotlight on the experience of our local residents and that they will get a chance to tell their stories on a national stage so that other communities won’t have to go through what we have endured.

Orange Lions Barbeque

Lots of customers last weekend at the Orange Lions Club BBQ!

Thanks to everyone who supported the Lions in their important community work.

It’s great to be a Lion! can

The stories that emerged from recent public meetings I’ve held on insurance claims have been deeply troubling.

I am grateful to the Prime Minister and also to the Minister for Financial Services and Assistant Treasurer for answering our communities’ calls for an inquiry.

When I asked the Prime Minister in Question Time in May whether he would support an inquiry, he indicated that he would consider it and he has done what he said he would do.

I’m hoping that this inquiry will be a watershed moment in the way that insurers deal with disasterhit policy holders.

Change needs to come from this immense tragedy and devastation.

I think it’s important that the Minister has not only travelled to our area to hear first-hand what our residents have been through but that he has also come and delivered a tangible result. It’s certainly more than just a photo opportunity.

Voice Info Sessions

Following the strong success of the first Voice information evening in Orange, The Orange Region Voice Working Group is hosting a number of upcoming Voice information sessions.

It’s a great opportunity to get the info you need and have your questions answered on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

• Sunday 30 July at 3pm, at Orange High School, Wiradjuri Country. Register - tinyurl.com/ voice-info-3

• Tuesday 1 August at 6pm, online webinar. Register - tinyurl.com/voice-info-4 don’t just have insurance

Insurance companies don’t just answer to shareholders, but also the nation. They don’t just have insurance contracts with our residents, they also operate with a social licence.

We need to get to the bottom of what’s happened here and

Millthorpe Museum Memorial Wall Lunch

On the weekend, I had a wonderful time at the Golden Memories Museum at Millthorpe.

The Millthorpe Village Committee and the Millthorpe and District Historical Society joined forces to apply for a Saluting Their Service grant from the previous federal government to improve the war memorial. This included adding further names of those from Millthorpe who have served our country in various conflicts, and putting up a new flag pole.

Last Saturday 15 new names were officially added to the memorial. It was a day to remember, as families from all over the state came to honour their loved ones.

One new name on the wall was that of Colin Flatters OAM who was born in Millthorpe.

Colin did two tours of Vietnam and served in the artillery during the Battle of Long Tan. Colin spoke of his military experience during the ceremony.

Another highlight of the day was catching up with Irene Chapman who celebrated her 101st birthday last Saturday. A very happy birthday Irene!

Congratulations to the Millthorpe and District Historical Society President Bruce Chapman, Secretary Jacki Irvine, and also to Millthorpe Village Committee President Nick Anagnostaras and their teams.

It was certainly a day to remember and to honour those who’ve served our nation with such distinction.

You can also sign up for the Orange Region Voice supporter mailing list here: tinyurl.com/supporter-sign-up.

WHY IS THE VOICE NECCESSARY?

It’s hard to believe, but Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not recognised in our nation’s founding document. This wrong must be made right. The Voice provides that recognition in a meaningful way.

The aim of the Voice is to get better outcomes for Indigenous Australians by ensuring they have a say on issues that affect them. For example in housing, education, health and jobs.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have lower life expectancy, higher suicide rates, higher infant mortality rates, and worse educational outcomes than non-Indigenous Australians. The gap isn’t closing, and despite well-intentioned governments, the current approach isn’t working. We need to change it up. The Voice is about listening and getting positive, tangible outcomes in communities around Australia.

IS THE VOICE LEGALLY AND CONSTITUTIONALLY SOUND?

Yes. A host of constitutional law experts and organisations have given the Voice the tick of approval as being legally and constitutionally sound, including:

• Former High Court Chief Justice Robert French

• Former High Court Justice Kenneth Hayne

• Leading constitutional law barrister Bret Walker SC

• Leading constitutional law professors

• The Solicitor General of Australia

• New South Wales Bar Association

• The Law Society of New South Wales

• The Law Council of Australia

• The University of Sydney Law School

• Flinders University Law school

• The University of New South Wales

• Adelaide Law School

• University of Queensland constitutional lawyers

• Gilbert & Tobin Lawyers

WILL

THE VOICE BE A THIRD CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT?

No. Myth Busted. The Voice can’t and won’t introduce bills or run programs. It will be subject to the rules set for it by Parliament.

DOES THE VOICE GIVE ANYONE SPECIAL RIGHTS?

No. Myth busted. The Voice does not give any group any special rights. It’s an advisory body that doesn’t give any rights to anyone. This has been confirmed by eminent constitutional lawyers and former High Court judges.

WILL THE VOICE MOVE RECONCILIATION FORWARD?

WILL THE VOICE “GUM UP” THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH COURT CHALLENGES AND STOP BUDGETS, CHANGE ANZAC DAY, TAKE LAND, BAN FISHING, STOP NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE CONTRACTS OR CREATE A SEPARATE STATE?

No. Myth busted. Leading constitutional law barrister Bret Walker SC has described claims the Voice would lead to endless court challenges and the “gumming up” of the wheels of government as “nonsense” and “too silly for words”. It’s an advisory body that will be subject to the rules Parliament makes for it. It won’t have the power to ban anything. These wild claims are ludicrous.

WHO WILL BE ON THE VOICE?

Members of the Voice will be chosen by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and serve for a fixed period. It will include Indigenous Australians from every state and territory, the Torres Strait Islands and representatives from the regions and remote communities.

I’M SAYING YES!

Want to add your face to our Voice feature? Email andrew.gee.mp@aph. gov.au

Yes!

Just as the 1967 referendum enabled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be counted in the census, the Voice will also be a unifying step forward. This referendum is another pivotal moment in our country’s history.

I’m Councillor Mel McDonell, and I’m supporting an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.